This Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is a Southern classic that’s sure to become a new family favorite! It’s a quick bread that’s packed with pecans, has a wonderfully moist and tender crumb, and a delightful sweetness from both granulated and brown sugar. I love how this recipe is both easy to make and incredibly delicious. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or even dessert, and it’s a great way to showcase the rich flavor of pecans.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
- Packed with Pecans: This bread is loaded with finely chopped pecans, giving it a wonderful nutty flavor and texture.
- Moist and Tender: The combination of oil, eggs, and the right balance of dry ingredients creates a perfectly moist and tender bread.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Versatile: Enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or dessert.
- Southern Classic: A taste of Southern comfort food!
Ingredients for Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious bread. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Pecans, finely chopped (Nuts)
- Self-rising flour (Dry Ingredient)
- Granulated sugar (Sweetener)
- Brown sugar (Sweetener)
- Vegetable oil (Fat)
- Large eggs, beaten (Binder)
- Vanilla extract (Flavoring)
- Salt (Seasoning)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Nuts: Use walnuts, almonds, or a mix of nuts instead of pecans.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in some chocolate chips (mini or regular) to the batter.
- Add Dried Fruit: Toss in some raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the batter.
- Glaze: Drizzle a simple glaze (powdered sugar mixed with milk or cream) over the cooled bread.
How to Make Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
Let me show you how easy it is to make this Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread:
Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
- I preheat my oven to 350°F (175°C).
- I use some butter or nonstick spray to grease a baking dish measuring 9×13 inches.
Combine Wet Ingredients
- In a bowl, I combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, beaten eggs, and vegetable oil until they are well mixed.
Add Dry Ingredients
- I gradually mix in the self-rising flour and salt just until they are incorporated.
Add Vanilla and Pecans
- I add the vanilla extract.
- I gently fold in the chopped pecans.
Bake
- I pour the batter into the greased baking dish.
- I bake it in my preheated oven for around 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Cool and Serve
- Cool and serve
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Pecan Bread
Here are my secrets for making this bread truly exceptional:
- Use Self-Rising Flour: Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt, making this recipe even easier.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can make the bread tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Freshly Chopped Pecans: For the best flavor, use freshly chopped pecans.
- Check for Doneness: Use a toothpick to check for doneness. It should come out mostly clean, with maybe a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool Completely: Let the bread cool completely before slicing to prevent it from crumbling.
How to Serve
This Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is delicious served:
- Warm or at Room Temperature: It’s delicious both warm and at room temperature.
- Breakfast or Brunch: A perfect addition to your breakfast or brunch spread.
- Snack: A great afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or tea.
- Dessert: Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Make Ahead and Storage
This bread keeps well for several days. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the bread for longer storage.
FAQs about Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
- Can I use a different type of nut?
- Yes, you can use walnuts, almonds, or a mix of nuts instead of pecans.
- Can I make this without the nuts?
- Yes, you can omit the pecans if you prefer.
- Can I use regular flour instead of self-rising flour?
- If you use regular all-purpose flour, you’ll need to add baking powder and salt.
Enjoy this easy, flavorful, and incredibly delicious Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread! It’s a perfect treat for any time of day.
Print
Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Bread, Quick Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Description
This Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is a simple, moist, and flavorful quick bread packed with pecans. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack. The combination of granulated and brown sugar adds depth, and the self-rising flour makes it incredibly easy to prepare.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecans, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups (188g) self-rising flour (see notes)
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 cup (237ml) vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, beaten eggs, and vegetable oil. Whisk or beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the self-rising flour and salt to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed (or stirring with a spatula) until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add Vanilla and Pecans: Stir in the vanilla extract. Gently fold in the finely chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
- Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (not wet batter). The top should be golden brown.
- Cool: Let the pecan bread cool in the baking dish for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Self-Rising Flour: This recipe uses self-rising flour, which already contains baking powder and salt. Do not substitute all-purpose flour without adding leavening agents. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own: For each cup of all-purpose flour, whisk together with 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. For this recipe, you would need 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder + a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Pecans: Finely chopped pecans distribute best throughout the bread. You can chop them by hand or use a food processor.
- Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar. Dark brown sugar will give the bread a richer molasses flavor.
- Oil: Vegetable oil is used for moisture. You can substitute another neutral-tasting oil, such as canola oil.
- Do Not Overmix: Overmixing the batter can result in a tough bread. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Baking Time: The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven.
- Serving Suggestions: This pecan bread is delicious served warm or at room temperature. It’s great on its own, or with a spread of butter, cream cheese, or jam.
- Storage: Store leftovers.